Corporate change and integration as a result of a merger : an analysis of organizational culture within a large full-service law firm.

Previous research on organizational mergers has found that such a business activity bears an effect upon the structural and cultural foundations of organizations. Whether combining intellectual resources or capital, mergers combine workforces that have operated within every unique historical settings. This research focused on a merger between two law firms and the subsequent acquisition of an additional firm. Interviews with a random stratified sample of employees were conducted to gain insight on the cultural aspects of workforce integration. Througout the research, culture and structure were used as interrelated aspects when addressing the merger. The main result of the research revealed how the employees of three different organizations accustomed to different cultural and structural legacies were affected by workforce integration. With the conclusion of the study, an additional research setting is offered to a growing area of academic interest

Explaining variability in the production of seed and allergenic pollen by invasive Ambrosia artemisiifolia across Europe

To better manage invasive populations, it is vital to understand the environmental drivers underlying spatial variation in demographic performance of invasive individuals and populations. The invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, has severe adverse effects on agriculture and human health, due to its vast production of seeds and allergenic pollen. Here, we identify the scale and nature of environmental factors driving individual performance of A. artemisiifolia, and assess their relative importance. We studied 39 populations across the European continent, covering different climatic and habitat conditions. We found that plant size is the most important determinant in variation of per-capita seed and pollen production. Using plant volume as a measure of individual performance, we found that the local environment (i.e. the site) is far more influential for plant volume (explaining 25% of all spatial variation) than geographic position (regional level; 8%) or the neighbouring vegetation (at the plot level; 4%). An overall model including environmental factors at all scales performed better (27%), including the weather (bigger plants in warm and wet conditions), soil type (smaller plants on soils with more sand), and highlighting the negative effects of altitude, neighbouring vegetation and bare soil. Pollen and seed densities varied more than 200-fold between sites, with highest estimates in Croatia, Romania and Hungary. Pollen densities were highest on arable fields, while highest seed densities were found along infrastructure, both significantly higher than on ruderal sites. We discuss implications of these findings for the spatial scale of management interventions against A. artemisiifolia

Does Allelopathy Play a Role in Suppression of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) by Alfalfa?

Alfalfa suppresses mugwort growth in the field. In the present study, the allelopathic effect of alfalfa on mugwort was examined using the above-ground (AGAB) and under-ground alfalfa biomasses (UGAB), and their water extracts. The sprouting of mugwort rhizomes or seed germination, growth of seedlings and leaf color changes in mugwort seedlings were evaluated in pot experiments. AGAB mixed into soil highly inhibited sprouting of mugwort rhizome fragments and growth of seedlings. The inhibitory effect was increased, and gradual leaf discoloration (yellowing) was observed in response to a higher dose of AGAB. However, UGAB affected neither sprouting of mugwort rhizome fragments nor growth of seedlings. The growth of mugwort seedlings was not significantly affected by water extracts of either AGAB or UGAB applied after emergence. The seed germination and seedling growth were significantly reduced by water extracts of AGAB and UGAB in the petri dishes experiments. These results indicated that the allelopathic effect of alfalfa along with the competitive ability and harvesting regime may play an important role in suppressing mugwort growth

NEW RECORDS OF MICROFUNGI AND CHROMISTA FROM ANATOLIAN PENINSULA OF TURKEY

WOS: 000450076500001This article presents new records of fungi and downy mildews in Turkey on different weeds of agrophytocoenosis. These records include Plectosphaerella alismatis (Oudem.) A.J.L. Phillips, Carlucci & M.L. Raimondo (on Alisma plantago-aquatica L.), Pyricularia grisea Sacc. (on Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv.), Phakopsora artemisiae Hirats. (on Artemisia dracunculus L.), Puccinia rubefaciens Johanson (on Galium sp.), Ustilago trichophora (Link) Kunze (on Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.), Peronospora astragalina Syd. (onAstragalus homosus L.) and P myagri Mayor (on Myagrum perfoliatum L.). Plectosphaerella and Phakopsora as generic level and others as species are new records from Turkey. Description and illustrations of the identified fungi are presented, which all are based on Turkish specimens. The identified fungi could be potential biological control agents; however, detailed studies are needed in this regard

Invasion Potential of Two Tropical Physalis Species in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates: Effect of Water-Salinity Stress and Soil Types on Growth and Fecundity.

Invasive plants are recognized for their impressive abilities to withstand adverse environmental conditions however, all invaders do not express the similar abilities. Therefore, survival, growth, nutrient uptake and fecundity of two co-occurring, invasive Physalis species were tested under water and salinity stresses, and different soil textures in the current study. Five different water stress levels (100, 75, 50, 25, and 12.5% pot water contents), four different soil salinity levels (0, 3, 6, and 12 dSm-1) and four different soil textures (67% clay, 50% clay, silt clay loam and sandy loam) were included in three different pot experiments. Both weeds survived under all levels of water stress except 12.5% water contents and on all soil types however, behaved differently under increasing salinity. The weeds responded similarly to salinity up till 3 dSm-1 whereas, P. philadelphica survived for longer time than P. angulata under remaining salinity regimes. Water and salinity stress hampered the growth and fecundity of both weeds while, soil textures had slight effect. Both weeds preferred clay textured soils for better growth and nutrient uptake however, interactive effect of weeds and soil textures was non-significant. P. angulata accumulated higher K and Na while P. philadelphica accrued more Ca and Mg as well as maintained better K/Na ratio. P. angulata accumulated more Na and P under salinity stress while, P. philadelphica accrued higher K and Mg, and maintained higher K/Na ratio. Collectively, highest nutrient accumulation was observed under stress free conditions and on clay textured soils. P. philadelphica exhibited higher reproductive output under all experimental conditions than P. angulata. It is predicted that P. philadelphica will be more problematic under optimal water supply and high salinity while P. angulata can better adapt water limited environments. The results indicate that both weeds have considerable potential to further expand their ranges in semi-arid regions of Turkey

Ipomoea tricolor (Convolvulaceae) in Turkey: New occurrence record and potential spread areas under current climatic conditions

Background: The invasive alien plant species exert significant economic and ecological impacts in the introduced ranges. The occurrence reports of newly introduced species and assessing their potential spread are important for halting their future spread. Methods: The presence of Ipomoea tricolor Cav. (Convolvulaceae) in Turkey is confirmed through surveys in Tokat province. The general characteristics and seed germination potential of the plant were determined, and its potential distribution areas in the country were modeled by maximum entropy model. Global habitat suitability of the species was predicted under current climatic conditions and then downscaled to Turkey. Results: The plant was first recorded on the edge of a field and in the garden of a house in Tokat province (Kat town) of Turkey. The species was transported/introduced here for ornamental purposes. Afterward, the species was detected at two more locations in the residential areas of Tokat province, grown as an ornamental plant. The model predicted that there are plenty of vacant niches with moderate habitat suitability for I. tricolor in Turkey. The Black Sea, Aegean, Mediterranean and some parts of central Anatolia regions of the country are suitable for the spread of this species. Considering the rapid spread of I. purpurea (an ornamental plant species in the same genus) in agricultural and non-agricultural areas of the country, it is predicted that I. tricolor  could spread and cause negative impacts on agro-ecosystems. Conclusions: The potential spread areas of the species should be mapped under future climatic conditions to develop early detection and rapid response system in the country. Rapid surveys should be conducted in the areas predicted as suitable to track the spread of the species and improve models’ prediction. Nonetheless, awareness should be created through citizen science to halt the spread of this species in the current distribution region of the country